The Five Questions You Should Always Ask Before Choosing an ITAD Partner
By David Woodriff, February 2026
David is the Group Commercial Director at S2S Group, with over 30 years of experience in the ITAD industry, working with blue-chip suppliers across the country.
In his role, he is responsible for generating growth aligned with the Group’s strategic roadmap. He often works directly with key accounts and supports expansion into new territories, using his experience and industry knowledge to drive long-term success.
In my 30 years working in the ITAD industry, I have worked with various blue-chip organisations across the country. This has involved supporting companies through major technology shifts and helping customers navigate everything from compliance challenges to large-scale transformation projects.
During this time, one thing has remained constant – choosing the right ITAD partner is critical to business success. This is not simply a tick-box exercise. The decision you make affects your business’s data security, sustainability, financial return and reputation.
As part of my role at S2S Group, I work directly with key customers to understand their needs when it comes to retiring their at-risk IT assets. In all those conversations, I come back to the same five questions. These are the questions every customer should ask before committing to an ITAD partner.
1) How do you ensure data security and compliance?
All too often at S2S Group, we see just how damaging poor data handling can be. Even well-intentioned ITAD programmes can fall short if the right controls are not in place. This is why data security should always be the first question asked.
A credible ITAD partner should be able to clearly explain their approach to secure data destruction, chain of custody and compliance with recognised standards.
At S2S Group, efficient and secure data destruction sits at the heart of our service. We offer a range of destruction methods to suit different risk profiles, all backed by robust reporting and long-standing certifications such as ISO27001 and ADISA Standard 8.0. In my experience, customers value knowing that their data protection obligations are being met without compromise.
2) What are your sustainability credentials?
Sustainability has moved from a talking point to a business imperative. Having worked with large organisations for decades, I have seen how environmental responsibility is now embedded into procurement and reporting requirements.
When asking about sustainability credentials, customers should look for how their proposed partner has produced genuine outcomes for their previous clients rather than just headline sustainability claims. It is important to understand how much equipment is reused, how recycling is managed and how your environmental impact is reduced.
We take a practical, hands-on approach when working alongside our clients, ensuring they understand every stage of the ITAD process and how it will benefit them in the long-term. Our team always aims to extend asset life wherever possible and ensure responsible recycling when it is not. This supports our customers’ sustainability goals while delivering measurable results they can stand behind.
3) Do you offer transparent tracking and reporting?
A lack of visibility is one of the most common concerns I hear from customers. Without clear tracking, uncertainty creeps in, and confidence quickly drops.
Transparent reporting should be part of the core service, not an optional extra. Our Trakk-IT platform provides customers with full visibility of their assets throughout their ITAD journey, in real time. From collection to final disposal, everything is tracked and documented.
4) Can you handle all types of IT assets?
After working alongside various businesses in the industry, I can confidently say that no two IT asset banks look the same. From end-user devices to complex technological infrastructure, we work with a variety of clients with different amounts of assets.
This is why it is so important to understand whether an ITAD partner can handle all asset types efficiently. At S2S Group, our tiered solutions are designed to be flexible. We tailor our approach based on asset type, volume and customer objectives. This allows us to support both routine refresh cycles and more complex projects without disruption.
However, regardless of the size of your project, every customer receives the same dedicated account management, which supports their IT asset lifecycle journey until the very end.
5) How do you create value from redundant equipment?
One of the biggest misconceptions I still encounter is that redundant equipment has no value. In reality, with the right expertise, it can deliver both financial and environmental benefits.
A strong ITAD partner should be able to demonstrate how value can be recovered responsibly and how that value flows back to the customer. At S2S Group, our bespoke account management means we take the time to understand each customer’s priorities. We align value recovery with your wider business and sustainability goals, creating outcomes that go beyond just IT equipment disposal.
Choosing your ITAD partner for 2026 and beyond
In the ITAD industry, the best partnerships are built on trust, transparency and experience. Asking the right questions at the start sets the foundation for long-term success.
At S2S Group, our services reflect the answers customers should expect. Bespoke account management, tiered solutions, secure and efficient data destruction, transparent tracking through Trakk-IT, and a genuine commitment to sustainability.
Get in touch with our team of ITAD experts today and start your business’s sustainability journey.